Aluna
Behaviour
Consultancy
A advocacy
L liberty
U understanding
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Aluna Behaviour Consultancy
Newsletter No.11, February 2023
Training for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
2020 was a year of reckoning for "race relations". Global protests against police brutality and deep structural inequalities forced an acknowledgment of racism on a scale that we had never seen before.
Many people looked inwards, reflecting their own biases – unconscious or otherwise – and pledged to be better, to speak out against injustice, to no longer simply nod along or be silent in the face of racial inequality. But there are still people who believe that this movement towards greater equality doesn’t apply to them. Those who believe that because they are not racist, they don’t have any work to do.
In schools, educational settings in general, local authority teams and services working with children and young people each of us must pay attention to our views, behaviours and interactions with others. Listening and acknowledging lived experiences and trauma-informed practice helps us to learn that from, whatever our personal starting points, we can support, provide allyship and share with others approaches to anti-racist, diverse. equitable and inclusive good practice.
Firstly, establish where you are now . . .
• Is your setting truly inclusive?
• Does it represent the diversity of your school
and local community?
• Do all members of your school experience
representation and feel a sense of belonging?
• Is your school's culture non-racist and in what
ways is that demonstrated?
• Are you in the process of actively moving from
non-racist to anti-racist approaches?
Whatever stage you're at, read on and see how I can create a package to meet the needs of your setting.
From Bystander to Ally
Allyship exists as a lifelong process of building and nurturing supportive relationships with underrepresented, marginalized, or discriminated individuals or groups with the aim of advancing inclusion.
Being the opposite of a bystander - who stands and watches while doing nothing - an upstander takes action. When an ally becomes an upstander, they witness what is wrong and act upon it. This may be calling someone out on offensive jokes, remarks or stereotyping.
An upstander speaks up about unfairness, supporting those who experience such behaviour.
Equality & Equity
The case exists for both in differing contexts. Equality exists where each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents.
Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
It is the belief that no-one should have poorer life chances because of the way they were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability. Equity aims to identify and eliminate barriers that prevent the full engagement of particular individuals and groups.
Diversity
While diversity is about bringing together people from all walks of life, representation ensures that diversity of members - and their viewpoints - are depicted across all areas and levels within the setting.
Diversity is about what makes each of us unique and includes our backgrounds, personality, life experiences and beliefs, all of the things that make us who we are. It is a combination of our differences that shape our view of the world, our perspective and our approach.
Diverse representation is important in challenging learned prejudice and creating an understanding that there are as many connections as there are differences.
Inclusive Practice
Inclusion involves efforts and behaviours that are fostered by the setting and those within it.
All members of a group or community, regardless of their ability or disability, have the right to be respected and appreciated as valuable members of the community, fully participate in all activities and interact with those of all ability levels with opportunities to develop positive relationships.
Belonging is something that members of the school themselves feel and results from effective inclusive practice.
The social ties that accompany a sense of belonging are a protective factor for helping to manage challenges. The knowledge of having support and not being alone creates more resilience and emotional wellbeing, often coping more effectively with the difficult times in life.
Anti-Racist Practice in Education
Awareness, understanding and action from non-racist towards ant-racist behaviour is a process. Members of any setting have perspectives, lived experiences and knowledge underpinning their beliefs.
This is essential for their identity and needs to be heard and acted upon in order for anti-racist work to be impactful, effective and sustained.
The need for social justice and a heightened awareness of inequality is something that we all must be cognisant of. For those on the receiving end of racism, there must be a sense of positive change in mindset and daily practice.
The Growth of Anti-Racism
Personal and professional growth in the way we view and respond to racism underpins the scope of work that is possible.
The last few years can not have failed to bring to our attention the racism that continues to plague our society.
We can no longer plead ignorance, but we can recognise lack of awareness and unconscious bias.
When we do it's the responsibility of all of us to act on it. People of colour, allies and educators can leave a legacy that makes an evolving impact on children and young people in schools and other educational settings. Seize the opportunity to embrace Anti-Racist Practice in your setting or workplace with bespoke training designed to meet your needs.
Free Training for NEU Members: The Anti-Racist Framework in Schools
This training is an introduction to anti-racism in schools. It includes:
• The baseline knowledge and skills
needed for anti-racist education.
• How to challenge the barriers and
myths used to block anti-racist
initiatives.
• Using the NEU Framework for Anti-
Racist Practice in Schools.
Contact me for a FREE 30-minute mini-consultation to discuss the appropriate package of support for your setting. Email: zelpher@aluna-abc.co.uk
